Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-09-10

IL ny power 10 prevent H. ne grew
more calm as he spoke, and continued
In firm voice. "I would willingly die
Allen Kerr. to save my daughter from
the stain Of being called your wife.
Time may change your decision. 1
give you till tomorrow morning to
decide, finally. Adieu. and touching
his horse lightly he galloped away.
But alas, how uncertain is life. Ere
the set Of sun the gallant Colonel was
no more, and Allen Kerr was robbed
Of his revenge.
He died like the hero he was, with
his back to the field and his feet to the
foe"
Our brigade was ordered into action
almost Immediately after his converse
ton with Kerr, and in the front ranks,
encouraging his men by word and
action he fell, as did many another
brave commander on that fatal day, to
rise no more.
In this same engagement I had the
misfortune to be wounded, and conse-
quently was taken prisoner and con
Veyed to a rebel hospital Here was
kindly cared for by the female nurses,
one of whom was especially kind to me.
She interested me greatly, and day by
day my interest in her seemed to in
crease.
Slight Of figure, she moved about
from one poor helpless unfortunate to
another with noiseless tread like a visit
ing angel
Was it Imagination that caused me to
fancy that she fingered at my bedside
and that her liquid eyes grew more
sympathetic as she gazed down upon
me?
Before I had been an inmate of the
hospital for q week realized that 1
was desperately in love with the little
rebel maiden. an occurrence not alto
gether unpleasant TO me, and possibly
not to her.
As 1 sat one day engaged in watching
my fair nurse, I suddenly became
possessed of the idea that we had met
before. But if so, where?
This L could not answer, and I dis
missed it from my mind, only, however,
to have it recur again. At last, unable
longer to restrain myself, I said:
ave have met before, and you know
it. Where L know not. For days I
have tried to conjecture"
"You are right; I am Edward Alton.
You once arrested me for a spy"
IT recognize you now, p" I replied
"I escaped, you remember; how, was
a mystery. But withal a simple one,
seeing that your commander was my
father" Here she turned aside and
tears streamed down her fair cheeks at
the thought of the loss of her only
shield and protector.
All through the remaining years Of
the war 1 never lost sight of my fair
nurse, and at its close I sought her out
among the hills of Georgia. proposed
marriage, told her of my history and
prospects. both of which were good.
To my great joy L found my case was
not a hopeless one.
In the years of our married life
I heard from the lips of my
wife, whose true christian name was
Kitty Edwards. the fate of Allen Kerr.
Angered at being deprived by the
death of Col Edwards of his only hope
Of winning Kitty for his own, he
plunged into the wild dissipation of
camp life, and, losing all his money by
gambling, was driven to suicide by re-
morse and despair, and found a grave
beneath the waters Of the James.
"But what caused the difference Of
sentiment between you and your
father?" I asked.
"He had been educated at West
Point, she replied; twas an adopted
child of his country; then came the
call to arms; his allegiance to his coun-
try rose higher than his love for his
State, and he espoused the Union
cause.
"As for me, Twas a fiery little. South
erner, and refused to be influenced by
my fathers wishes. Eager to aid, in
any way possible, my friends in the
field, 1 drifted into the service, first as
a spy, and afterward as a nurse in the
hospital OF this latter fact You may
have some personal knowledge" she
added, playfully. "for it was while
there I met, but not for the first time, a
Yankee Lieutenant suspiciously like
yourself" and she raised her hands in
much seriousness, and I clasp in loving
way the slender wrists on which I once
placed the glitteringhandcufs.